LINES, BUT IT IS TOUGH. JUST ABOUT EVERY ROAD YOU TRAVEL ON THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU’LL SEE THEM. POTHOLES. THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS ON PACE TO WORK ON MORE THAN 25,000 SQUARE YARDS OF POTHOLES, TO THE TUNE OF MORE THAN $3 MILLION. >> SIMPLY THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN THE GROUND, IN THE FREEZE-BOSS CYCLE, THIS IS POTHOLE SEASON AS WE TRANSFER FROM WINTER INTO SPRING. >> A LOT OF RIM DAMAGE, TIRES BLOWN OUT WHERE THEY HIT THE POTHOLE AND IT BLOWS THE TIRE OUT. IT BENDS THE RIM SO YOU NEED TO CALL A TIRE SHOP. LOWELL: WORK IS PICKING UP AT GARAGES LIKE TIM’S AUTOMOTIVE. TIM TELLS US REPAIRS CAN BE EXPENSIVE. >> A LOT OF CARS HAVE ALUMINUM WHEELS WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE. THEY CAN BE 200 GOLF -- $200, $300 PER WHEEL. >> THEY SEEM TO BE QUITE PREVALENT NOT ONLY IN MARYLAND BUT THROUGHOUT THE REGION. LOWELL: AAA SAYS THE POTHOLE PROBLEM HAS BECOME AN ISSUE FOR MANY MEMBERS AND HAS PUBLISHED TIPS TO HELP DRIVERS, INCLUDING REMEMBER TO LOOK AHEAD FOR POTHOLES. SLOW DOWN, AS POTHOLES ARE EASIER TO AVOID AT SLOWER SPEEDS. BEWARE OF PUDDLES, AS THEY CAN BE DEEP POTHOLES WAITING TO BE HIT. IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE, MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR VEHICLE’S ALIGNMENT WITH A PROFESSIONAL. ACCORDING TO THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE TOLD IN THE COMING WEEKS, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE PERMANENT REPAIRS AS THE WEATHER GETS WARMER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPORT POTHOLES, WE HAVE LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE, WBALTV.

Pothole season is here and with the drastic temperature changes, more and more drivers are falling victim.On the onramp to Route 100, the State Highway Administration says it has been on the front lines trying to win this battle, but it has been tough so far."It doesn't take much to really form these potholes. We've had so much rain it's almost like an artesian well coming out of the ground and some spots you can see the moisture," said Charlie Gishlar of the SHA. The SHA says it is fighting the good fight when it comes to potholes, but things have gotten so bad that in some spots -- like on the National Park Service-controlled portion of 295 -- they've actually had to lower the speed limit."A lot of rim damage, tires blown out where they hit a hidden pothole, and that blows the tire out and bent the rim. That means I have to call a tow truck, but we recommend a tow truck," said Tim Bonner of Tim's Automotive Towing. The sound of crunching metal from potholes often leads drivers to garage owners like Bonner, who says he's seeing more and more damaged vehicles come into his shop."The lower control arms get bent, or the strut housing can get bent, or part of the body can get bent because the tire will go up into the wheel well. It'll hit the fender been that into see a body damage, as well -- depends on how big the hole you hit," Bonner said.And those repairs are not cheap. According to AAA-Midatlantic, drivers in the United States pay a staggering amount of money to repair pothole damage to their vehicles."AAA did a study looking at a pothole damage and it appears that Americans on average pay about $3 billion a year total as it relates to pothole damage at an average of, for each American driver, probably about $300 for a pothole repair," said Ragina Averella, of AAA-Midtlantic. "They seem to be quite prevalent not only here in Maryland but throughout the region this year."AAA-Midatlantic says the pothole problem has become a real issue for many of its members and has published some tips to help drivers, including: Remember to look ahead for potholes.Slow down as potholes are easier to avoid at slower speeds...Beware of puddles as they can just be deep potholes waiting to be hit and if you do hit a pothole.Make sure to check your vehicle's alignment with a professional.The SHA tells 11 News, they should be able to make permanent repairs in the coming weeks.For more information on how to report a pothole, click here. Information on

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"It doesn't take much to really form these potholes. We've had so much rain it's almost like an artesian well coming out of the ground and some spots you can see the moisture," said Charlie Gishlar of the SHA.

"A lot of rim damage, tires blown out where they hit a hidden pothole, and that blows the tire out and bent the rim. That means I have to call a tow truck, but we recommend a tow truck," said Tim Bonner of Tim's Automotive Towing.

The sound of crunching metal from potholes often leads drivers to garage owners like Bonner, who says he's seeing more and more damaged vehicles come into his shop.

"The lower control arms get bent, or the strut housing can get bent, or part of the body can get bent because the tire will go up into the wheel well. It'll hit the fender been that into see a body damage, as well -- depends on how big the hole you hit," Bonner said.

And those repairs are not cheap. According to AAA-Midatlantic, drivers in the United States pay a staggering amount of money to repair pothole damage to their vehicles.

"AAA did a study looking at a pothole damage and it appears that Americans on average pay about $3 billion a year total as it relates to pothole damage at an average of, for each American driver, probably about $300 for a pothole repair," said Ragina Averella, of AAA-Midtlantic. "They seem to be quite prevalent not only here in Maryland but throughout the region this year."

AAA-Midatlantic says the pothole problem has become a real issue for many of its members and has published some tips to help drivers, including:

Remember to look ahead for potholes.

Slow down as potholes are easier to avoid at slower speeds...

Beware of puddles as they can just be deep potholes waiting to be hit and if you do hit a pothole.

Make sure to check your vehicle's alignment with a professional.

The SHA tells 11 News, they should be able to make permanent repairs in the coming weeks.

For more information on how to report a pothole, click here. Information on